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What a lovely shade of blue Steve. This one is really something special. Covet, envy, desire, etc.Janyška "Praga"
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My Blue Heaven
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I agree with Mike, that is a great shade of blue on that one. Wonderful hat as usual.Janyška "Praga"
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Mike, Thank you! I enjoy wearing this one. It also has the unique half width sweatband.
Stefan, Thanks! By the way this one is from my May 2016 Czech find.
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cobalt blue?
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Could be. Maybe a Dark Cobalt. It doesn't have any dye color name on the paper label (only numbers).
I love that one, Steve! Beautiful blue Praga!Janyška "Praga"
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Thank you!
Nathaniel Finley
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Was this question ever decided? This very early shot of Whitman is super famous...could this be the image that started this style on its way as "the poet"?
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Nathaniel Finley
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By the next century, here's a shot of Langston Hughes in one as well. Hard to get much more ROTLA than this!
Or Ezra Pound...
Or Ezra Pound...
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The Herbert Johnson website states Mr. Johnson began making the "Poet" hat in the 1890s. Walt Whitman died in 1892 so it's entirely possible Johnson was inspired by Whitman and chose the name "Poet" in his honor since Whitman appeared to favor hats with wide brims and taller-than-usual crowns, but I haven't read anything that would confirm that. Most websites that mention the Poet hat do so in conjunction with some form of history about the Indiana Jones hat, and any detailed history about the hat prior to that is scarce if you're only performing a little "quick and dirty" research like I have.
KarlCrow
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even irish poets like hats
Bob Roberts
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I think Wilde was the inspiration.
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Wesslyn
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I'd always read Whitman was the inspiration, although I can't remember for the life of me where I've read it or if it's even reliable.
But judging from other famous writers' hats, perhaps The poet was just the perfect name for such a hat.
By the way, anyone have any of those new poets with the original block that was mentioned a few months back?
But judging from other famous writers' hats, perhaps The poet was just the perfect name for such a hat.
By the way, anyone have any of those new poets with the original block that was mentioned a few months back?
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Nathaniel Finley
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I adore Oscar Wilde, but I definitely lean towards a Walt Whitman explanation myself. This is not just because Whitman is my poetic idol, either - not only was the above-cited image of America's first poet used in the first edition of LEAVES OF GRASS (published in 1855, when Wilde was only 1 year old) but Whitman is famous for stating that his passion for writing poetry was first inspired by reading Emerson's essay, "The Poet."
I realize this is circumstantial evidence, but this single image of Whitman is more famous than any single image of Wilde and that also adds strength to my conviction.
Here is the title page of the original 1855 LEAVES OF GRASS.
I realize this is circumstantial evidence, but this single image of Whitman is more famous than any single image of Wilde and that also adds strength to my conviction.
Here is the title page of the original 1855 LEAVES OF GRASS.
Bob Roberts
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I just like Wildes hat better.
Nathaniel Finley
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And I Whitman's poems! 
Here's a good article on the relationship between Whitman and Wilde. It also, coincidentally, includes the following description of the above-cited title page of LEAVES OF GRASS:
'This frontispiece is now considered, the scholars Ed Folsom and Charles M. Price write, “the most famous in literary history.”'
https://newrepublic.com/article/119885/when-walt-whitman-met-oscar-wilde
Here's a good article on the relationship between Whitman and Wilde. It also, coincidentally, includes the following description of the above-cited title page of LEAVES OF GRASS:
'This frontispiece is now considered, the scholars Ed Folsom and Charles M. Price write, “the most famous in literary history.”'
https://newrepublic.com/article/119885/when-walt-whitman-met-oscar-wilde
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It's possible, but based on available photos it seems Whitman was a far more dedicated hat wearer than Wilde. Or Johnson could have named the hat in honor of some poet known by only a few. Inspiration can take many forms, and without more information we may never know.
Nathaniel Finley
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Are we certain that Herbert Johnson first named this style "The Poet"? To me, their website is unclear on that matter. It says only, "The 'Poet' had been made by Herbert Johnson since the 1890's..." but that doesn't specify that they invented the style or that they named it. If they did, and it was the early to mid 1890's, I would have to say that's evidence that it was indeed named after Oscar Wilde since he was wildly popular (no pun intended). It would be hard to believe after 1895, though, since that's the year of Wilde's conviction for 'indecency.'
In the end, it could be named after neither Wilde nor Whitman, and without further evidence I am seeing how speculative this discussion is. I assume Herbert Johnson has archives of that time but would they open them for amateur historical investigation? (not that I can afford to go to London right now but one can still dream!)
Nathaniel Finley
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I also see an alternative theory:
In 1882, portrait photographer Napolean Sarony took a series of photos of Oscar Wilde in a cape and "poet" hat (Bob posted one of those images above). Sarony was known for taking shots of actors in costume. So what if this hat was a costume piece, one that was always used on the Victorian stage to designate "the poet?" Wilde, in 1882, was known more for his poetry than for his plays (he'd only written one play whereas his poetry had won awards. DORIAN GRAY was still a long way off). 1882 was also the year Wilde visited Walt Whitman. Maybe he was playing the part of the poet, using stage props that most theater-goers would recognize? This means the hat wasn't named after any specific poet, but after a stock character of the Victorian stage.
I have no idea of the veracity of this theory, but it sure seems plausible to me.
Here are two more of Sarony's portraits.
In 1882, portrait photographer Napolean Sarony took a series of photos of Oscar Wilde in a cape and "poet" hat (Bob posted one of those images above). Sarony was known for taking shots of actors in costume. So what if this hat was a costume piece, one that was always used on the Victorian stage to designate "the poet?" Wilde, in 1882, was known more for his poetry than for his plays (he'd only written one play whereas his poetry had won awards. DORIAN GRAY was still a long way off). 1882 was also the year Wilde visited Walt Whitman. Maybe he was playing the part of the poet, using stage props that most theater-goers would recognize? This means the hat wasn't named after any specific poet, but after a stock character of the Victorian stage.
I have no idea of the veracity of this theory, but it sure seems plausible to me.
Here are two more of Sarony's portraits.
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